Applying to Medical School

Applying to study Medicine is always a potential "minefield", with conflicting advice from different sources. That said, the more information you have at your fingertips the better.

You can view slides from a PowerPoint, titled Applying for Medicine, which was delivered at a recent national careers conference, here.

Also useful, is a table of information about which Medical Schools will take any A/S level qualifications you have into account when applying for Autumn 2017 entry.  View it here.

Two pathways planned at 16+

The first skills white paper in a decade will bring an end to mixed provision and make 16-year-olds choose between academic courses leading to university or a new Technical Professional Education (TPE) route into work. The leaked, government  paper, is likely to be controversial for fear the plans will create a two-tier system between academic schools and vocational colleges. A three-year course could also be an option, with the first year preparing students to start on TPEs. There will be a substantial work experience element within each college-based TPE “pathway”, within its relevant industry.

Impact of the Digital Revolution

Students should be able to take Computer Science instead of a language at GCSE and schools should offer a 'technical stream' for 14-18 year olds, according to a new report, which also says the Ebacc is forcing students into a “19th century diet of academic subjects for all”. In The Digital Revolution, former education secretary and chair of the Edge Foundation, Lord Kenneth Baker writes that radical action is needed to help prepare children for the the impact of the digital revolution, which he terms the "fourth industrial revolution".

“The economy is changing at an unprecedented pace,” he said. “Every day, jobs are being lost in professions we used to regard as careers for life. artificial intelligence, robots, 3D printing and driverless vehicles will impact on sectors as varied as the legal profession, transport and construction.

“The UK’s future workforce will need technical expertise in areas such as design and computing, plus skills which robots cannot replace – flexibility, empathy, creativity and enterprise.

“Right now, this thinking is almost entirely absent from the core curriculum in mainstream schools.”

His report was prompted by the Bank of England’s prediction that up to 15 million jobs are at risk of automation across the UK economy.

Have a Sandwich

The number of students taking a sandwich degree has risen from 113,795 in 2009-10 to 153,535 in 2014-15. This is partially down to an improving economy, which makes obtaining placements easier and a growing awareness of their benefits: destination data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency shows that 82% of graduates from a sandwich course were in employment, compared to 74% for other graduates. In addition, the maximum fee that universities can charge for students for the sandwich year has been dropped to £1800 from 2014-15, whilst many charge less than this. The majority of students also earn on their sandwich year, although remuneration is very much dependent on the industry concerned.

Be a farmer!

Agriculture is the fastest growing subject in UK universities. There are over 19,000 people studying Agriculture and related subjects and while at first glance the subject may seem quite narrow, in fact those that do not wish to pursue a career in farming can find work with food retailers, suppliers or work in research, technology and education. Read more here.

Rise in success rates of Apprenticeships

Latest figures from the Skills Funding Agency indicate that the apprenticeship success rate has risen by 2.8% to 71.7%. 

In related news, the Sutton Trust has published research that suggests that apprentices with a Level 5 qualification could earn £50,000 more in their working lifetime than those with an undergraduate degree from a non-Russell Group university.

Russell Group leads in studying STEM subjects

For those students with an eye on a Russell Group university, studying STEM subjects or languages are more likely to see them succeed. New research has found that 47% of students who study STEM subjects at A-level went on to a Russell Group university in 2011/12. Read more here.